Refrigeration



REFRIGERATION Filed Aug. 3, 1940 Patented Dec. 21, 1943 REFRIGERATION Philip P. Anderson, Jr., Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel,'Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,882

8 Claims.

This invention relates .to refrigeration, and more particularly to refrigeration systems of the absorption type.

In absorption refrigerating systems of this kind a liquid refrigerant or cooling agent evaporates in an evaporator with consequent absorption of heat from the surroundings. The evaporated refrigerant passes from the evaporator to an absorber in which the refrigerant is absorbed into liquid absorbent. The absorption solution is conducted in.a liquid circuit to a generator in which refrigerant is expelled from absorption solution by heating. The expelled refrigerant is liquefied in a condenser and thn returned to the evaporator to complete the refrigerating cycle. The absorption solution from which refrigerant has.- beenexpelled is conducted in its circuit from the generatorto the absorber to absorb refrigerant vapor.

All of the liquid refrigerant supplied to the evaporator does not always evaporate due to variations in load on the evaporator, so that over a period of time a quantity of unevaporated refrigerant passes through the evaporator. When the evaporator is located below the absorber, provision must bemade for returning to the absorption liquid circuit unevaporated refrigerant passing through the evaporator.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement in systems of this type for returning to the. absorption liquid, circuit unevaporated refrigerant passing through an evaporator which is located below an absorber.. This is accomplished by raising liquid refrigerant by vapor-lift action from the lower part of the evaporator to a higher level, so that the liquid can be introduced into a part of the system. .above the liquid level of the absorption solution.

The heating of liquid refrigerant for raising the a liquid by vapor-lift action is preferably effected by condensed steam returning from the generator to a boiler. the condensed steam being formed at the generator to which the steam is supplied from the boiler for heating the generator.

The invention, together with the .aboveand other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and of which the single figure is a view more or less diagrammatically illustrating a refrigeration system embodying the invention Referring to the drawing, the present invention is embodied in.a two pressure absorption refrigeration system like that described in application Serial No. 239,762 of A. R. Thomas and P. P. Anderson, Jr., filed November 10, 1938, now

Patent No. 2,282,503 granted May 12, 1942. A system of this type operates at low pressure and includes a generator or expeller ill, a condenser ll, an evaporator l2 and an absorber l4 which are inter-connected in such a manner that the pressure differential in the system is maintained by liquid columns.

The disclosure in the aforementioned Thomas and Anderson application may be considered as being incorporated in this application, and, if desired, reference may be made thereto for a detailed description of the refrigeration system. In the drawing the generator l0 includes an outer shell I5 within which are disposed a pin rality of vertical riser tubes l6 having the lower ends thereof communicating with a'space I1 and the upper ends thereof extending into and above the bottom of a vessel l8.

The space l9 within shell l5 and about the tubes l6 forms a steam chamber to which steam is supplied through a cpnduit 20 from a boiler 2|. The boiler 2| is provided with a heating tube 22 into the lower open-end of which is adapted to project the flame produced by' a burner 23. While only a'single heating tube and biu'ner are illustrated, a number of heating tubes and burners may be employed with the upper open end of each tube connected to a flue or riser 24. The water in boiler 2| is heated by the hot products of combustion passing through the heating tubes 22, thereby producing steam which flows through conduit 20 to generator [0. A suitable hand valve 25 may be provided in conduit 20 to control the flow of steam to the generator.

The space l9 provides for full length heating of riser tubes l6, and a vent 26 is provided at the upper end of shell IS. A conduit 21 is connected to the lower end of shell l5 to return to the boiler 2| condensate formed in space It, as will be desc'ribed'more fully hereinafter.

The system operates at a partial vacuum and contains a water solution of refrigerant in absorptionliquid such as, for example, a water solution of 40% lithium chloride by weight.

.With steam being supplied through conduit 20 passes through the headers through a U-tube 3i, fiash chamber jz and con duit 33 into evaporator 12.

The evaporator l2 includes a plurality oi horizontal banks of tubes 34 disposed one above the and in the latter to vessel 50.

other and to which are secured heat transfer fins 35 to provide a relatively extensive' heat' transfer surface. The end portions ofthetubes 34 pass into spaced vertical'headers 36. Their water flows from flash chamber'3'2 through trap conduit 33 into a liquid distributing trough 31 iupward j'through The heat liberated with absorption of water i vapor in absorber I4 is transferred to a cooling water, for example, which flows the vertically disposed pipe medium, such as banks 44. The cooling medium is supplied 7 through a conduit. 55 to a horizontal manifold 56 from which the water flows into the uppermost horizontal bankof tubes 34. through successively lower banks of tubes through upright open end sections 38 ,at the ends'oi tubes 34, whereby shallowcharged 'at'38- ifi'oin'the lowermost bank l'of tubes 34, 2:4; The water' suppliedtotubes 34- evaporates therein to produce-a refrigerating or coolingeffeet with consequent absorption of heatfrom the surroundings; as from a stream of air flowing over the exterior surfacesof the tubes 34 and fins 35.

The vapor formed in tubes 34 passes out through the distributing trough 31 and open end sections 38 into the headers 36 which are connected by upwardly extending pipes 40 toabsorber l4." To prevent disturbances in evaporator the flash chamber 32 isprovided to take care of anyvapor flashing of liquidbeing fed to the evaporator through U-tube 3 I The flashed vapor which may; form passes through a conduit 4| into one of the" pipes 4land mixes with vapor formed in. evapora tor l2.

In'absorber i4 into concentrated absorption liquid which enters through aconduit' 42. Theabsorption-liquid flows from the upper end'ofconduit-42 into a liquid receptacle and-distributor in: whichliquid isdistributed laterallyiofa lurality of vertically disposed pipe banks which are arranged alongside of each other. The liquid in receptacle is sub-divided andilows through a pluralityof conduits 45 into .a holders anddistrlbutors 45 extending lengthwise of and above the uppermost horizontal pipe sec-.

tions of pipe banks-44, I v I Absorption liquid siphons over the walls of the, liquid holders 45withdrops of liquid falling onto andcompletelywetting the uppermost pip'e sec-' tions; Liquid drips from-each horizontal pipe section onto the next'lower pipe section whereby all of the pipe sections are wetted with 'a' film of liquid..' c e The water vapor formed 'in evaporator I2 36 and pipes 40 into' absorber l4 and is absorbed "int'o absorption liquid in the latter, The water-vapor absorbed in the liquid dilutes the latter, and the diluted absorption liquid flows througha conduit 41, a first passage in liquid heat exchanger 48, conduit 49,

vessel 50, and conduit 5| intothe lower space [1 of generator i0. Water-vapor is expelled out of solution in generator In by heating,andthe solutionf is raised by gas or vapor-lift action in riser tubes l5, as explained above. liquid in vessel i8 is concentrated since :water vapor has been expelled therefrom in generator refrigerant vapor absorbed plurality of liquid The absorption The water passes pools of liquid are "formed in the tubes. 34 with excess liquid =being dis-,-=

to which the lower ends of the pipe banks 44 are connected. The upper ends of the pipe banks 44 are connected to a manifold 51 to which is connected a conduit 58 through which cooling medium leaves the absorber l4. The conduit 58 is connected to condenser l I so that the same cooling medium may beutilized to cool absorber l4 and condenser l l ,with the'cooling medium flowing from, condenser ll through conduit 59 to waste;

The system operates at a low pressure with the generator l0 and condenser ll operating at one pressure and the evaporator l2 and absorber i4 operating at a lower pressure, the pressure difi'erential therebetween being maintained by liquid columns. Thus, the liquid column formed in tube 3i maintains the pressure difierential between condenser H and evaporator l2, the liquid columnin conduit 41 maintains the pressure differertial between the outlet of absorber i4 and generator l0, ,and the liquid column formed in conduit 42 and connected parts including conduit 52 maintains the pressure difierential between theinlet of absorber l4 and generator III. In operation, the liquid columns may form in conduits 41, 52 and the down-leg of tube 3! to the let-51s 2:, 1!, and z, for example. The conduits aresuch that restriction to gas flow is efiected without appreciably restricting f ow of liquid.

The liquid column formed in vessel 50 and conduit 5| provides the liquid reaction head for raising liquid in riser tuba I 6 by vapor-lift action. The vessel 50 is of sufilcient-volume to hold the liquid differential in the system and is of such cross-sectional area that the liquid level therein doesnot appreciably vary, so that a substantially constant reaction head is provided for lifting liquid in generator ID. The vessel 531s located below absorber I such a distancithat, for the=greatestpressure differential occurring between absorber l4 and the upper part of generator ,lli during operation of the system, the liquid column formed in conduit 41 is below the lower part of absorber I4.

The conduit 52 extends above the upper end of conduit 42in order that flow of absorption liquid will take place to absorber M by gravity and independently of the pressure differential in the system. After the pressure differential in the system has built up and the liquid column in conduit 52 is at the level 1!, for example, and of less height than the liquid column in conduit 42 due to the higher pressure in generator Ill than in absorber l4, gravity flow of absorption liquid still takes place from the upper part of conduit 52 to the inlet of absorber- [4.

In accordance with this invention, in order to raise unevaporated refrigerant from the lower H I: a ieu,

part of evaporator 52 to a higher level in the system, the liquid discharged at 39 from the lowermost bank of tubes 3d passes into the upper end of a vertical conduit Ell. Thelower end of which condensate flows from generatorv in. The V condensate flows through conduit 2? into the extreme lower part of jacket 55 and overflows from an intermediate region thereof through a conduit including a vertical portion 65 and a horizontal portion 51 which passes through horizontal conduit 65. The horizontal portion 6? of the conduit through which condensate overflows from jacket 65 is connected to boiler 2i to complete the return path of flow of condensate from the generator to the boiler.

During operation of the refrigerating system the variations in load on evaporator I2 may be such that at times liquid refrigerant evaporates at a ratewhich is less than the rate at which liquid is supplied to the evaporator, and the unevaporated liquid flows through conduit 60 into horizontal conduit 6|. The conduit 6! and conduit 51 extending therethrough constitute a heat exchange device, whereby liquid flowing through conduit Si is preheated by condensate flowing through the horizontal conduit 61. .The preheated liquid enters the lower parts of risers 62 which are heated by condensate entering jacket 65 through conduit 21.

Due to the heating effected by the hot condensate in jacket 65, liquid evaporates in the lower parts of risers 62 to form vapor bubbles whereby liquid is raised or lifted in the risers by vapor-lift action. The risers 62 are sufiiciently small so that the vapor bubbles cannot freely pass liquid therein.

It has been found that the condensate returning from generator to to boiler 2! is an ideal heating agent for raising liquid from the lower part of evaporator I2. The liquid passing from evaporator l2 into the upper end of conduit'lill may be at a temperature of about 45 or 50 F., for example, and the condensate entering jacket 65 through conduit 21 may be at a temperature of about 180 to 200 F., for example. The condensate supplies a small amount of heat at a relatively high temperature to form suflicient vapor to effect lifting of liquid by vapor-lift ac tion. In the arrangement provided undesirable overheating of liquid in risers 62 is avoided. If overheating of liquid in the risers'62 were effected, only vapor may pass through the risers into absorber H with no appreciable lifting or raising of liquid. In such case an additional burden would be imposed on the absorber H in that the excess vapor formed in risers 62 due to overheating must necessarily be absorbed into solution. However, in the arrangement provided, a minimum quantity of vapor is formed to effect the necessary lifting of liquid with a major portion of the unevaporated refrigerant being returned in a liquid state from the evaporator I! to the absorber M at the higher level. Under these conditions the additional amount of refrigerant vapor that must be absorbed into solution in see absorber lies a result of lifting liquid in risers 52 by vapordift action, is at a V In a system of the type described, andparticih larly when alwater solution of lithiir n chloride is employedin the system, a high conce of absorption solution mustbe used to the solidifying point, 'When the quan y of liquid in parts of the system, other than the absorption liquid circuit becomes too great. precipi tatlon of salt crystals takes, placewith the attendant danger oi blockingflfi fiow'of liquid in the'absorpi-ion liquid circuit. For this reason the evaporator 52 and absorber Mare" both arranged to retain a minimum quantity f liquid while performing their necessary, functions. [In order that variations in the quantityof 'liqui dfcircm lating in the absorption liquid circuit will be kept at a minimum. it is desirable to return as quickly as possible to the absorption liquidoircuit Lnevaporated refrigerant passingcut of the lower endof evaporator ii. In the arrangement pro the invention, as pointed out in vided dependable lifting of liquid from the lower partof evaporator 12 is effectedv with the raised liquid being introduced into an intermediate part of absorber It so that it can immediately flow into the absorption liquid circuit. V .j

While a singleemb'odiment'of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that modifications and changes may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. multi-pressure absorption refrigeration sytem, a generator and a condenser adapted to operate atone pressure and an evaporator and an absorber adapted to operate at a lower pressure, connections between theaforementioned parts to provide circuits for circulation of refrigerant and absorption liquid including means to form liquid columns to maintainthe pressure differential, said evaporator extending below said absorber, and means for raising against the force of gravity liquid refrigerant passing from a lower part of said evaporator and conducting the raised liquid into the path of flow of the circulating absorption liquid.

2. In an absorption refrigeration system, a generator, an absorber, conduits connecting the aforementioned parts to provide a circuit for circulation of an absorption solution, means to sup ply steam at substantially atmospheric pressure to said generator to cause expulsion of refrigerant from absorption solution, a condenser for com denslng expelled refrigerant, an evaporator, a conduit for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, said conduit being arranged to create a liquid head whereby a reduced pressure exists in the evaporator, means including a vertically extending conduit for conducting liquid refrigerant from the lower part of said evaporator to said absorption liquid circuit, and means for utilizing condensate of said steam at atmospheric pressure to vaporize a portion of said liquid refrigerant at reduced pressure in said vertically extending conduit to thereby effect lifting of said liquid by vapor-lift action.

3. A method of refrigeration which consists in expelling a cooling agent from an absorbent by heat transfer thereto from a heating medium, converting the expelled cooling agent to liquid phase, reducing the vapor pressure ambient to the liquid cooling agent and thereby causing evap oration of the liquid cooling agent to produce a refrigerating effect, carrying out said reduction in vapor pressure by re-absorbing evaporated cooling agent in the absorbent, circulating said absorbent for the purpose of carrying out said absorbing and expulsion steps at different places, the place of absorption being at a lower pressure than the place of expulsion, collecting excess liquid cooling agent at the place of evaporation, and raising lift action produced by application to the collected liquid of heat residue in said heating medium after use in said expulsion step, and conducting the raised liquid into the path of flow of the circulating absorbent.

4. A method of refrigeration as set forth in r 3 in which said heating medium is steam which condenses during use in said expulsion step, and said residue heat is in the resulting condensate.

5. A mefliod of refrigeration as set forth in claim 3 inwhich said evaporating and absorption steps are carried out at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure and less than the pressure at which said expulsion and condensing steps are performed. said cooling agent being water, and said heating medium being steam at atmospheric pressure which condenses during use in said .expulsion step, and saidresidue heat is in the resulting condensate.

6. In an absorption refrigeration system, a gencrater, a condenser, an evaporator connected to such liquid to a higher level by vapor receive liquid refrigerant through a pressure drop from said condenser, an absorber connected to receive vapor from said evaporator, said absorber also being connected with said generator to form a circuit for circulation of absorbent therethrough and therebetween with a higher pressure in said generator-than in said absorber, a supply of steam for heating said generator, the steam being condensed while heating the generator, and a device operated by heat from th condensate formed by said heating of thegenerator, which device is-operative to lift liquid from said evaporator upward for flow to said absorbent circuit.

7. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 6 in which said refrigerant is water, said evaporator and absorber being below atmospheric pressure, and said device is a vapor liquid lift. 7

8. A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 6 in which said refrigerant is water, the system operating under vacuum conditions, and said steam supply is afforded by a boiler connected to a condenser in heat exchange relation with said generator, the condenser being vented to atmosphere so that the steam supplied thereto is at atmospheric pressure, and the heating of said liquid raising device is by condensate flowing back to said boiler from said condenser.

PHHJP P. ANDERSON, JR. 

